252 THE FARM DOCTOR. 



must be kept open by small doses of powdered croton seeds or 

 podophyllin mixed with solid extract of belladonna and smeared 

 on the back teeth as often as may be necessary. A bad case 

 will require six weeks to acquire complete ease of movement. 



CONVULSIONS. FITS. 



Seen most frequently in young dogs and cats during teething 

 and in bitches at the period of parturition or when reduced by 

 suckling a large litter. In dogs or pigs they are common from 

 indigestion or intestinal worms, and will occur in all animals 

 from disorders in the brain or poisons in the circulation. The 

 symptoms are those of sudden agitating spasms of one or more 

 parts of the body, usually protrusion and redness of the eye- 

 balls, and frothing from the mouth, with complete insensibility. 

 Treatment consists in removing the causes as far as ascertained ; 

 lance inflamed gums ; expel worms or irritating matters from 

 stomach and bowels ; correct dyspepsia by good feeding, air, 

 exercise, lodging, ard by tonics (bitters, iron, etc.). The con- 

 vulsions may be checked by such agents as ether or chloral- 

 hydrate given by inhalation or injection. 



SLEEPY STAGGERS. COMA SOMNOLENTUM. 



A chronic disease of horses characterised by drowsiness with 

 impaired consciousness and voluntary movement, without fever. 

 It may be associated with pressure on the brain by tumours, 

 soft or bony, but above all by serious effusion. Increase and 

 decrease of the brain, and thickening of its membranes are 

 other occasional concomitants. It appears to be at times 

 connected with deranged blood-forming processes, as in diseases 

 of the right heart, lungs and liver, or with defective elimination 

 as in kidney disorders. 



Sy?nptoms. — Sleepiness, listlessness, want of life and intelli- 

 gence, a stupid demented look in the eye, drooping lids, un- 

 steadiness in the gait, perhaps only seen in turning or backing ; 



